Revolver-type gun with bolt



5 Sheets-Sheet 1 E. A. KAMP REVOLVER-TYPE GUN WITH BOLT Dec. 14, 1965 Filed March 25, 1960 Dec. 14, 1965 E. A. KAMP 3,222,989

REVOLVER-TYPE GUN WITH BOLT Filerd March 25, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 14, 1965 E. A. KAMP REVOLVER-TYPE GUN WITH BOLT 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 25, 1960 INVENTOR. Ewul a- A Kn'mF Dec. 14, 1965 E. A. KAMP REVOLVER-TYPE GUN WITH BOLT 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 25, 1960 ill INVENTOR. Ewull A Kumi:

E. A. KAMP REVOLVER-TYPE GUN WITH BOLT Dec. I14, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 25, 1960 e ll L INVENTOR. Ewnl.-A KumF BY M ma@ wfjwf 3,222,959 Patented Dec. lli, i965? 3,222,989 REVLVER-TYIE GUN WITH BOLT Ewald A. Kamp, Chicago, Ill., assigner, by mesne assignments, to the United States of America as represented bythe Secretary of the Army Filed Mar. 25, 1960, Ser. No. 17,717' 7 @Claims (Cl. Sii- 155) This invention relates to automatic firearms of revolver type and more particularly to a new type of revolver firearm having a split breech and an operating bolt disposed in cooperation with a chambered drum.

The idea of using the revolver principle for storing a plurality of cartridges so as to serially index the rounds to the barrel for discharge thereinto is old in the art but it was not until World War II that the first automatic aircraft weapon using the revolver principle was produced in Germany. This prototype weapon was incomplete but it stimulated international research into the principle and the development of revolver type firearms for aircraft use.

The M39 automatic revolver firearm developed by the United States is believed to be the most advanced weapon of this kind but, as in the development of any new principle, there are inherent defects in the design which did not become apparent until the development of the weapon was well advanced.

In the M39, as with the other revolver-type firearms developed to date, the cartridges are completely chambered in the drum for discharge and the energized projectiles pass therefrom into the barrel. Thus, the problem of sealing the space between the drum and the breech end of the barrel is serious because, if obturation is not perfectly effected therebetween to prevent the escape of the hot gases from the discharges, a loss of power and the erosion of the barrel and drum faces as well as the hazards of flash back and cook-off result.

The problem has been met by introducing reciprocating sleeves in each chamber which are actuated to bridge the space between the drum and barrel responsive to the forces of the discharge gases. This means, however, reduces the life of the barrels because of the deformation and surface breakdown produced in the breech ends of the barrels by the seals and because the impingement of the seals has made the adaptation of barrel liners difficult.

Then there is the problem of safetying the guns so that a cartridge in the ring station will not be accidently discharged in close quarters as when the carrying plane is landing.

from the drum at the firing station so that safety is dependent upon the securing of the tiring device against accidental operation or lupon the interruption of the feeding mechanism during automatic tire so that the rounds in the drum may all be fired out.

In the conventional type of revolver firearms, too, the projectiles are in free iiight from the time they leave the cases in the drum until they engage the riding in the barrel. This permits some of the discharge gases to escape past the projectiles when the discharge gases are at their peak pressures to result in an estimated loss of 180- 280 fps. muzzle velocity.

Analytical investigations have indicated that there is a definite interdependence of gun component weights, cyclic rate and internal energy levels and that specific ratios exist between drum weight and slide weight in order to permit an eiicient firing cycle. Since the slide is the main actuating component, its weight and velocity determine the cyclic rate of the gun and the amount of energy required to operate it and the weight of the slide is determined by that of the drum. At present this energy level is very Because of the construction of the conventional revolver firearms, it is not possible to remove live rounds high, amounting to almost one-third of the available recoil energy of the gun. Therefore, if the weight of the drum could be decreased, this would permit a corresponding decrease in the weight and velocity of the slide and in the overall energy level in the gun which would materially aid wear and life of components and consequentially increase gun reliability.

In the present invention there is introduced a new concept which successfully overcomes these problems by providing a short length drum with the firing station cartridge being partially chambered in the drum and partially in the barrel so that the rotating band on the projectile engages the end of the rifling in the barrel. The cartridges are rammed, obturated and extracted by a bolt mounted to the slide. Through this design, the hot discharge gases are positively prevented from escaping between the drum and barrel by the cartridge cases to eliminate the need for seals and make possible the use -of barrel liners. Furthermore, through the Contact of the projectile with the barrel rifling at time of discharge, normal interior ballistics of the round can be obtained for a gain of approximately 20() fps.

Moreover, the drum mass is reduced to approximately one-half that in conventional revolver-type firearms for a corresponding reduction in the mass and velocity of the slide and the internal energy level. In addition, with the bolt ramming live cartridges into the drum at the ring station and extracting tired cases therefrom, it is possible to safety the weapon by providing a suitable charging device for operating the gun by auxiliary means and a sear for releasably retaining the bolt in the recoil position with the live firing station cartridge removed from chambered position.

The specific nature of the invention as well as other objects and advantages thereof will clearly appear from a description of a preferred embodiment as shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. l is a longitudinal, cross-sectional view of the gun with the bolt in battery position;

FIG. 2 is an extension of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a View taken along line 3 3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. l but showing the bolt with a fired case partially extracted thereby;

FIG. 5 is a view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 but with the drum rotated one pitch;

FIG. 7 is a View taken along line '7--7 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is an extension of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective View of the slide, carrier and bolt with the coupler separated from the associated trunnion to better show the cooperating lugs in the coupler and trunnion;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view taken along line ltl-ltl of FIG. l;

FIG. 1l is a perspective view of the drum and shaft;

FIG. l2 is an enlarged view taken along line ll2-12 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 13 is a longitudinal, cross-sectional View showing the bolt retracted by the charger; and

FIG. 14 is an extension of FIG. 13.

Shown in the figures is a gun 12 for the automatic and rapid discharge of a plurality of cartridges I4 each having a case f6 with a front shoulder I7 and a projectile 18 having a rotating band 2t) thereon. Gun 12 includes a longitudinally channeled receiver 22 to the front end of which there is mounted a barrel 24 having a bore 26 which is riiied, as noted at 28. A drum 30 is rotatably mounted Within receiver 22 by means of an axial shaft 32 and is provided with tive drum-chambers 34 for sequentially conveying cartridges 14 received thereby at a feeding station above the receiver to a firing station where the car- 3 tridges are closest to the bottom of the receiver and in coaxial alignment with bore 26.

The length of drum 30 is approximately half that of cartridge 14 so that when one thereof is in a chambered position and ready for discharge, a portion of case 16 forward of shoulder 17 is housed within a mating barrel-chamber 36 in the breech end of barrel 24 with rotating band 20 positioned in contact with the end of riiling 2S and the rear portion of case 16 is housed within one of the drum-chambers 34 with shoulder 17 contacting a mating shoulder therein.

Thus, the gases from the discharge of a chambered cartridge are dispelled directly into bore 26 with case 16 positively sealing the space between drum 30 and the rear end of barrel 24 and projectile 18 is is contact with rilling 23 from time of discharge. The recoil forces produced in drum 30 by the discharge of a cartridge 14 therein are transferred to receiver 22 during peak pressure by the engagement of a radially projecting rim 33 around the front end of the drum with the rear wall, noted at 42, of a channel 44 in the receiver. Other than during peak pressure, the recoil forces are transferred from drum 30 to receiver 22 by means as hereinafter explained.

Shaft 32 is provided with a rear spline portion 46 and a live-toothed sprocket feeder 52 is mounted on rear spline portion 46 for rotation with shaft 32. Drum 30 is mounted to a front spline portion 48 on shaft 32 by means of a matingly splined bore 54 for simultaneous rotation with the feeder. The spaces between the teeth of feeder 52 are each in alignment with one of the drum-chambers 34 so that the cartridges 14 placed in the sprockets at the feeding station from a conventional source of supply, as a linked belt, may be moved part Way into the drum-chambers during rotation to the firing station. The partial transfer is made by a helical eain 55 which, as best shown in FIG. l, is disposed in a case 53 covering feeder 52 for wiping engagement with the bases of the cartridges 14 during rotation to the ring station.

The front end of shaft 32 extends forwardly from drum 30 and such extending end is received in a vertically disposed slot 60 in receiver 22 and is releasably retained in such slot by a hinged cover 62. This front portion of shaft 32 is provided with a cylindrical bearing surface 64 which cooperates with mating surfaces in 'slot 60 arid on cover 62 in rotatingly supporting such front end. Forwardly of bearing surface 64, shaft 32 is` reduced to a predetermined diameter along a predetermined length to form a calibrated spring portion 66 havingy a function to be hereinafter described. The extreme end of shaft 32 is terminated by an integral button 68 which is rotatingly received in a mating recess in slot 60 for anchoring the front end of the shaft against axial displacement relative to receiver 22 and so as to transfer to the receiver the recoil forces which are not transferred thereto by the engagement of rim 38 with rear wall 42 of receiver channel 44.

Button 68 and rim 38 around drum 30 are so related that such rim is normally positioned in channel 44 clear of rear wall 42 and spring portion 66 is calibrated as to longitudinal elasticity so that, after the peak of the recoil forces is reduced with each discharge, the rim is returned to normal position away from engagement with rear wall 42 to avoid any consequent energy loss Vduring the subsequent indexing of the drum through frictional engagement thereof with receiver 22.

Slidingly mounted in receiver 22 beneath drum 30 is a slide 70 which is disposed for longitudinal reciprocation respective thereto and is provided with a substantially U-shaped cam groove 72 disposed for sequential cooperation with rotary followers 74 symmetrically arranged around the outside of the drum to successively index the drum chambers 34 at the tiring station during successive reciprocations of the slide. Followers 74 are spring loaded to be successively disposable in and out of cam groove 72 by means of entrance and exit ramps 71 and 73, respectively, to provide cooperation, as well known in the art, between earn groove 72 and drum 30 for the sequential rotation thereof. A carrier 75 is connectable to slide 70, as hereinafter explained, for longitudinal reciprocation therewith and carries a bolt 76 which is mounted to the carrier in crane fashion for movement between a battery and a recoil position as hereinafter described.

Drum 30 is concentrically reduced in diameter, as noted at 77, rearwardly of the drum-chambers 34 so that the circumferential surface 79 formed thereby coincides approximately with the centers of the drum-chambers, as best shown in FIG. ll, and a semicylindrical breech opening 73 is formed in such reduced diameter portion rearwardly of each of the drum-chambers and concentrically therewith to permit vertically upward movement of bolt 76 to the battery position for closing the breech end of the drum chamber indexed in the ring station. An ejection opening 80 is formed in drum behind each of the breech-chambers 34 at the rear end thereof and in communication with the corresponding one of the breech openings 78 to provide a clearance for passage of the forward portion of the fired cases 16 during ejection thereof from gun 12 when rotated from the firing station. The walls of each of the breech openings 78 are provided with integral semicircular and longitudinally spaced locking lugs 82, and ejection openings 80 are similarly provided with integral vertically disposed and longitudinally spaced locking lugs 83 to assist in locking bolt 76 against rearward displacement when in battery position.

Bolt 76 includes an anvil 84 with a semicylindrical upper portion having the same configuration as breech opening 78 so as to be vertically receivable therein to close the breech of drum-chamber 34 indexed in the firing station when the bolt is in battery position. A shelf 86 extends forwardly from anvil 84 to simultaneously close the associated ejection opening 80 and complete the wall of the drum-chamber 34 indexed in the tiring station. Locking ribs 88 extend up the sides of shelf 86 and over the top of the anvil 84 and are longitudinally spaced so as to be receivable between locking lugs 83 and 82, respectively, for locking engagement therewith when bolt 76 is in battery position.

A firing pin 90 extends longitudinally and retractably through anvil 84 for electrical contact with the primer of the tiring station cartridge when bolt 76 is in battery position and an electrical contact arm 92 extends upwardly from the rear end of carrier 75 for electrical contact with the rear end of tiring pin 90 also when the bolt is in battery position to connect the ring pin to a source of electrical current through a ring device (not shown) for discharge of the firing station cartridge.

Provided transversely through anvil S4 adjacent the base thereof is an axle 94 which extends from opposite sides thereof to provide support for a pair of rollers 96 as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. A pair of laterally spaced and longitudinally disposed slots 97 extend upwardly from the bottom of anvil 84 to provide communication with axle 94 and receive one end each of a pair of links 98 which are pivotally mounted to the axle. The opposite ends of the links 98 are pivotally mounted to the corresponding ends of a pin 100 which extends transversely through a stepped mount 102 disposed on the rear end of carrier 75 so as to step progressively upward in a rearward direction. An extension 104 projects rearwardly from anvil 84 adjacent the upper side thereof to provide support for a transverse axle 105. A second pair of links 106, similar to links 98, and a second pair of rollers 108 are mounted to axle 105 similar to the mounting of links 98 and rollers 96 to axle 94. The `free ends of the second pair of links 106 are pivotally mounted tg extending ends of a pin 112 transversely mounted through mount 102.,

The effective length of links 186 between the axes of axle 185 and pin 112 is the same as the length of links 98 between axle 94 and pin 180. The pins 188 and 182 and axles 94 are related so that the axes thereof form the corners of a parallelogram whereby the links 98 and 106 are always parallelly disposed during movement thereof. Thus, bolt 76 is mounted to carrier '75 in crane fashion and so that the vertical axis of the bolt remains at right angles to the longitudinal axis of gun 12 while being arcuately swung by the links 98 and 106 whereby the locking ribs 88 on bolt 76 may be vertically received between the locking lugs 82 in drum 38 when the bolt is swung up to battery position as hereinafter described. The links 98 and 106 are vertically disposed when bolt 76 is in battery position to block downward displacement thereof.

A pair of plates 114 extend integrally upward from the bottom of receiver 22, as best shown in FIG. l0, to provide sliding support for carrier 75. Bolt 76 is controlled during longitudinal reciprocation of carrier 75, so as to be swung up to battery position during forward travel thereof, by tracks in such plates. These tracks are formed on the insides of the plates 114 and include a cam path 116 in each thereof, which slidingly receives the rollers 96, and a second cam path 118 disposed above cam path 116 to slidingly receive rollers 108. Each of cam paths 116 and 118 is provided with a longitudinally disposed section, noted respectively at 120 and 121, which retain bolt 76 in an unlock position during longitudinal reciprocation of carrier 75. Arcuate portions 122 and 123 extend arcuately upward at a 90 angle from the forward ends of the longitudinal sections 128 and 121, respectively, and are arranged to swing bolt 76 vertically upward when the locking ribs 88 are positioned in alignment with the corresponding spaces between the locking lugs 82 associated with the drum-chamber 34 in the firing station during final movement of carrier 75 to the forward position thereof.

A leaf spring 124 is mounted to carrier '75 so as to extend longitudinally forward therefrom and provide resilient support for an extractor 126 mounted to the front end of the spring for vertical upward extension therefrom. Extractor 126 includes a rod 128 which extends slidingly through a mating opening 129 in shelf 86 so that bolt 76 is movable up and down the extractor during vertical movement to and from battery position and so that the extractor is also resiliently displaceable relative thereto. Rod 128 is terminated at the upper end by a laterally disposed wing portion 138, as best shown in FlG. 5, which is arcuately formed so as to be receivable by the extractor grooves of the cases 16 for extracting the red cases from drum 30 to the aligned spaces between the teeth of feeder 52 during recoil movement of bolt 76. Extractor 126 also serves to support the rear end of the cartridges 14 delivered by helical cam 53 in receiver 22 for subsequent ramming by bolt 76.

Slide 78 is actuated to a recoil position in receiver 22 by a pair of pistons 132 which, as best shown in FIGS. 3, 8 and l2, are disposed for longitudinal reciprocation in corresponding cylinders 134 which are laterally disposed inside of receiver 12, and such cylinders have communication with bore 26 of barrel 24 by means of ports 133 for receiving discharge gases therefrom to energize the pistons. Rearward movement of slide 78 is engageably transferred to carrier 75 which is interlocked therewith during such rearward travel and during subsequent counterrecoil travel to battery position by a pair of couplers 138 rotatably mounted to slide 78 as hereinafter described.

Slide 70 and carrier 75 are energized for counterrecoil travel by a pair of spring assemblies 148 each of which includes, as best shown in FIG. 9, an inner coil spring 142 which is received within an outer coil spring 144. The spring assemblies 141) are disposed on opposite sides of slide 70 within supporting cavities 148 provided inside of receiver 22 with the rear ends of the springs 142 and 144 buttressing a back plate 146 mounted to the rear end of the receiver. The front end of each of the outer springs 144 seats against a trunnion 150 xed to the laterally ex- 6 tending ends of a pair of cross arms 136 xed to opposite sides of carrier 75 while the inner springs 142 pass through the trunnions to seat against the couplers 138. Each of the couplers 138 slidingly receives a centering rod 152 which extends axially therethrough and through the associated inner spring 142 with the rear ends of the centering f rods being fixedly mounted to back plate 146.

Each of the couplers 138 is provided with a cup portion 154 and a stem portion 156 which extends forwardly therefrom and such stem portions are axially bored to slidingly receive the corresponding ones of the centering rods 152. The stem portions 156 are each received for rotation by a protuberance 158 extending laterally from opposite sides of slide 7@ and are secured against longitudinal displacement by lock rings 159 which retain the front faces of cup portion 154 in contact with the associated protuberances. Thus, slide 70 is biased forwardly by the inner springs 142.

Extending forwardly from the front end of each of the trunnions 158 is a smaller diameter portion 168 having circumferential bayonet lugs 162 which are receivable between mating lugs 164 inside of cup portion 154 for rotation in back of such lugs to secure the bushings against longitudinal displacement relative to couplers 138. Therefore, as trunnions are xed to carrier 75 through cross arms 136 and couplers 138 are rotatably mounted to slide 70, such carrier and slide are releasably locked so as to travel together when bayonet lugs 162 and lugs 164 are in engagement.

Couplers 138 are rotatable to and from locked engagement with trunnions 150 by the sliding engagement of the extending ends of a pin 166 mounted diametrically through the front portions of each of the centering rods 152 with cooperating cam slots 168 in each of the couplers 138. The cam slots 168 extend rearwardly into the stem portion 156 from the front ends thereof and are generated so that the couplers 138 are rotated for unlocking slide 70 from carrier 75 when such members are in the forward positions thereof to permit independent actuation of the slide and carrier for charging and gun clearing purposes as hereinafter explained.

Charging, to either start the operation of gun 12 or remove a cartridge 14 which is a dud therefrom, and gun clearing are effected by a charger 17 which, as illustrated in FIG. 14, includes a cylinder 172 mounted to receiver 22 between the cylinders 134 as shown in FIG. 3. Cylinder 172 is provided with a stepped bore including a forward portion 174 and a concentric larger diameter portion 176 extending rearwardly therefrom. Slidingly mounted in cylinder 172 is a two-piece piston including a rst piston 178 and a second piston 18). First piston 178 is slidingly disposed in forward portion 174 and extends slidingly through second piston 181) along the axis thereof for connection with carrier 75. Second piston 188 is connected to slide '70 for actuation thereof. A conventional cartridge-type device 182 for generating high pressure gases through the discharge of blank cartridges therein is connected, as shown in FG. 14, to the front end of cylinder 172 and such device may be selectively or automatically operated to discharge high pressure gases into the cylinder. When the high pressure gases are received by cylinder 134 first piston 178 is moved rearwardly, carrying with it carrier 75 and thereby bolt 76 and extractor 126 whereby the cartridge 14 in the tiring station may be removed from drum 38 if a dud or the gun is to be cleared. When bolt 76 is in recoil position, the front end of rst piston 178 is clear of forward portion 174 permitting the gases to act upon second piston and thereby actuate slide 78 to the rearward position thereof. Whereby, through the engagement of cam groove 72 with the engaged one of the followers 74, drum 38 and feeder 52 are rotated for ejection of the extracted cartridge and the indexing of the following cartridge in the firing station for subsequent ramming to the chambered position during the ensuing counterrecoil travel of bolt 76. Carrier 75 has to be actuated rearwardly farther by charger 170 than by the pistons 132 during normal operation because projectile 18 is still retained in case 16 of the unfired cartridge to be ejected and, therefore, such cartridge must be retracted sufficiently for the projectile to clear drum 30 through ejection opening 80. An electrically actuated Sear, such as shown at 184, may be provided to releasably hold carrier 75 in its rearward position after extraction of the firing station cartridge to interrupt the chambering of the succeeding cartridge and thereby clear gun 12 to eliminate the hazard of an accidental discharge thereof. Thus, it is possible to clear the gun for safety purposes without having to discharge all of the rounds in the drum as is necessary to safety conventional revolver-type rearms.

Operation Gun 12 is ready to be red when a cartridge 16 is chambered jointly by drum-chamber 34 and barrel-chamber 36 at the firing station and bolt 76 is in battery position as shown in FIG. 1. The chambered cartridge is discharged by closing the electrical circuit to firing pin 90 whereupon the two pistons 132 are actuated rearwardly responsive to the forces produced by the discharge to energize slide 70 for rearward travel. The energized slide 70 carries with it carrier 75 through the engagement of trunnions 150 with couplers 138. As carrier 75 moves rearwardly from the forward position thereof, the cam slots 168 in the stem portions 156 move along the extending ends of the pins 168 in the center rods 152 to rotate couplers 138 to engaging positions respective to trunnions 150.

During the initial recoil travel of carrier 75, bolt 76 is actuated from battery position moving at first vertically down extractor 126, which is in engagement with the extractor groove of the tired case 16, while the rollers 96 and 108 are moving along arcuate portions 122 and 123 of the cam grooves 116 and 118, respectively. When the rollers 116 and '118 enter the longitudinal sections 120 and 121 of the cam grooves 116 and 11S, respectively, bolt 76 is moved rearwardly therealong and such rearward movement is transferred to extractor 126. At the same time, the longitudinal portion of cam groove 72 is moved along the engaged one of the followers 74 to maintain drum 30 against rotation so that the fired case 16 may be removed by extractor 126 from barrelchamber 36 and partially from drum-chamber 34 and transferred into the aligned space in feeder 52. The fired case is ejected from gun 12 through a suitable port 186 in the side of receiver 22 by the centrifugal force imparted to the case by drum 30 and feeder 52 when rotated by the engagement of the follower 74 with the curved portion of cam groove 72 to move the succeeding cartridge in the feeder to the firing station. When the recoil forces produced by the dischargel of the firing station cartridge are at their peak and rim 38 is consequently in engagement with rear wall 42 of channel 44,

the engaged follower is received by the corresponding longitudinal portion of cam groove 72. By the time that the engaged follower 74 enters the curved portion of cam groove 72, the peak of the forces recoiling drum 30 is reduced and calibrated spring 66 has returned the drum to normal position so that rim 38 is free from engagement with rear wall 42 of channel 44 and any frictional resistance to movement therewith.

During the ensuing counterrecoil movement of carrier 75 and slide 70 to the forward positions thereof under 4the urgings of spring assemblies 140, which were cornpressed during recoil of such slide and carrier, the rotation of the succeeding cartridge in feeder 52 to the firing station is completed. Simultaneously with such rotation the cartridge rotated to the ring station is moved forward by helical cam 55 for engagement by extractor 126 to be supported thereby when actuated to the chambered position by bolt 76 during the counterrecoil movement thereof. During final counterrecoil movement of carrier 75, bolt 76 is moved vertically upward to battery position through the engagement of the rollers 96 and 108 with the arcuate portions 122 and 123 of the cam grooves 116 and 118, respectively. With bolt 76 in battery position, ring pin is in electrical contact with contact arm 92 for subsequent discharge of the chambered cartridge when the electrical circuit to an electrical source is completed by a conventional firing device (not shown).

From the foregoing it is clearly apparent that there is hereby provided a revolver-type gun which has the advantages of having positive obturation between the drum and barrel, the projectile of the chambered cartridge in contact with the riiiing in the barrel at time of discharge, a reduction of approximately lone-half in the mass of the drum, the drum free form frictional contact with the receiver when rotated, and a simple and positive means for safetying the gun.

Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described in detail herein, it is evident that many variations may be devised within the spirit and Scope thereof and the following claims are intended to include such variations.

I claim:

1. A gun for the discharge of cartridges each including a case and a projectile, said gun including a receiver, a barrel mounted to said receiver, a drum disposed in said receiver for rotation adjacent the breech end of said barrel, a plurality of drum-chambers arranged in said drum for successive alignment with said barrel when said drum is rotated, each of said drum-chambers being of a shorter length than the case of the cartridge and adapted to inclose the rear portion thereof when in a chambered position for discharge into said barrel, a barrel-chamber disposed in said barrel to receive the projectile and a front portion of the case of the chambered position cartridge, a crane mounted bolt reciprocably disposed in said receiver for engageably moving successive ones of the cartridges to the chambered position, and cam means mounted in said receiver for cooperation with said crane mounted bolt to vertically actuate said bolt to a battery position rearward of the cartridge moved thereby to the chambered position.

2. The gun as recited in claim 1 wherein the means for rotatingly mounting said drum to said receiver includes au axial shaft, and with the gun also including a rim radially disposed around said drum, a channel disposed in said receiver for receiving said rim and including a wall engageable by said rim for transferring the recoil forces produced by the discharge of the cartridge in the chambered position from said drum to said receiver when the recoil forces are at their peak, and a spring portion formed in said shaft for disengaging said rim from the wall of said channel after a reduction of the recoil forces from the peak limits thereof,

3. A firearm for the discharge of cartridges each including a case and a projectile, said firearm including a receiver, a barrel mounted to said receiver, a slide energizable for reciprocation in said receiver in recoil and counter-recoil strokes between a rear and a forward position by successive discharges of the cartridges into said barrel, a drum disposed within said receiver for rotation adjacent the breech end of said barrel, cam means operatingly disposed between said slide and drum for converting reciprocation of said slide to sequential rotation of said drum, a plurality of drum-chambers in said drum each adapted to inclose a rear portion of the case of the one of the cartridges disposed in a chambered position for discharge into said barrel, a barrel-chamber in said barrel disposed to receive the projectile and a front portion of the case of the chambered position cartridge, a carrier slidingly mounted to said slide for longitudinal reciprocation respective thereto, a coupler rotatingly mounted to said slide for releasable connection with said carrier to secure said slide thereto for joint reciprocation, a bolt pivotally mounted by crane means aaaaese to said carrier for longitudinal reciprocation therewith to engageably move the cartridges successively to the chambered position during movement of said bolt with said carrier to the forward position thereof, an extractor resiliently mounted to said carrier and disposed for operational cooperation with said bolt to extract the fired cases of the cartridges from said drum-chamber during movement of said carrier from the forward position thereof, said crane means being arranged to maintain the vertical axis of said bolt normal to the longitudinal axis of the gun during pivotal movement of said bolt, and cam means disposed between said bolt and said receiver for operational cooperation with said crane means for actuating said bolt vertically to a battery position as said carrier moves adjacent the forward position thereof.

4. The gun as described in claim 3 and including cam means on said coupler disposed for operational cooperation with engaging pins connected to said receiver for rotatably actuating said coupler to disconnect said carrier from said slide when in the forward position to permit independent actuation of said carrier and slide by a charger.

5. The gun as described in claim 3 wherein said extractor is resiliently mounted to said carrier by means of a leaf spring extending forward therefrom and said extractor includes a rod portion mounted to said leaf spring so as to extend vertically upward therefrom through a mating opening in said bolt to permit sliding vertical movement of said bolt therealong during movement to and from the battery position and whereby longitudinal movement of said bolt is transferred to said extractor, and a wing portion integrally secured to the top of said rod portion and disposed to be received by an extract-or groove in the case.

6. The gun as recited in claim 3 wherein said crane means includes a first pair of links each mounted similarly at opposite ends to said bolt and carrier, and a second pair of links each mounted similarly at opposite ends to said bolt and carrier and parallel to said first pair of links with the effective lengths of said second pair of links between said bolt and carrier being the same as that of said first pair of links and so that said first and second pair of links are vertically disposed when said bolt is in the battery position to block downward displacement therefrom.

7. A firearm for the discharge of cartridges each including a case and a projectile, said firearm including a receiver with a barrel mounted to the front end thereof for discharge of the cartridges therethrough, a longitudinally disposed shaft mounted for rotation in said receiver, a button at the front end of said shaft rotatingly received by a mating recess in said receiver for anchoring the front end of said shaft thereto, a sprocketed feeder mounted to the rear end of said shaft for rotation therewith and adapted to rotatably carry the cartridges from a source of supply to a battery station in axial alignment with said barrel in spaces provided between the sprockets, a drum mounted by spline means to said shaft between said feeder and the breech end of said barrel, a plurality of drum-chambers disposed in said drum in alignment with the spaces in said feeder so that the: cartridges are transferable from said feeder into said drum, each of said drum-chambers being adapted to inclose a rear portion of the case of a cartridge when in a chambered position ready for discharge into said barrel, a barrel-chamber in said barrel for receiving the projectile and a front portion of said case when the cartridge is in the chambered position, a radial rim extending annularly around the front end of said drum, a channel disposed around the inside of said receiver to rotatingly receive said rim, said channel including a rear wall engageable by said rim, a portion of said shaft disposed between said drum and button reduced in diameter to form a longitudinally resilient spring portion calibrated to permit rearward displacement of said drum for frictional engagement of said rim with said rear wall by the recoil forces only during the peak thereof, slide means actuatable by the forces produced by the discharge of the chambered position cartridge for sequentially rotating said drum to successively align said drum-chambers with said barrel, cam means disposed inside of said receiver for transferring the cartridges from said feeder partially into said drum during sequential rotations thereof, a bolt disposed for longitudinal reciprocation with said slide means for engageably moving the successive ones of the cartridges from engagement with said cam means to the chambered position, and means for vertically actuating said bolt to the battery position rearward of the chamber positioned cartridge.

No references cited.

BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner. ARTHUR M. HORTON, Examiner.

S. W. ENGLE, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A GUN FOR THE DISCHARGE OF CARTRIDGES EACH INCLUDING A CASE AND A PROJECTILE, SAID GUN INCLUDING A RECEIVER, A BARREL MOUNTED TO SAID RECEIVER, A DRUM DISPOSED IN SAID RECEIVER FOR ROTATION ADJACENT THE BREECH END OF SAID BARREL, A PLURALITY OF DRUM-CHAMBERS ARRANGED IN SAID DRUM FOR SUCCESSIVE ALIGNMENT WITH SAID BARREL WHEN SAID DRUM IS ROTATED, EACH OF SAID DRUM-CHAMBERS BEING OF A SHORTER LENGTH THAN THE CASE OF CARTRIDGE AND ADAPTED TO INCLOSE THE REAR PORTION THEREOF WHEN IN A CHAMBERED POSITION FOR DISCHARGE INTO SAID BARREL, A BARREL-CHAMBER DISPOSED IN SAID BARREL TO RECEIVE THE PROJECTILE AND A FRONT PORTION OF THE CASE OF THE CHAM- 